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Last winter, around national signing day, Bret Bielema told Sporting News' Matt Hayes that "We at the Big Ten don't want to be like the SEC – in any way, shape or form." At the time, Bielema was upset over newly hired Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's recruiting tactics. Meyer had recruited players who had already committed to other Big Ten schools, violating the league's longstanding "gentleman's agreement."

If Bielema thought he had it rough in the Big Ten, wait until he gets a load of recruiting at the source: in the SEC.

On Tuesday, Bielema left Wisconsin, where he had just clinched a third Big Ten championship in a row, to become the next coach at Arkansas, which was looking for a permanent replacement for Bobby Petrino. John L. Smith coached the Razorbacks to a disappointing 4-8 finish as the program's interim coach in 2012.

Bielema's move was surprising, to put it lightly. Even in a "down" year, where the Badgers failed to win at least 10 games for the first time since 2008, UW was able to clinch yet another trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. If nothing else, 2012 proved that it's possible for a Big Ten team to be successful even when not at its best.

In trading in Wisconsin for Arkansas, Bielema opted to enter the choppiest waters in college football. Didn't like recruiting against Meyer? Then wait until you get to the SEC, where there are 13 Meyers – and their assistants – chomping at the bit to reel in the conference's best class.

Bielema's move also opens up the Wisconsin job for the first time since 1990, when the program hired now-athletic director Barry Alvarez. Bielema was named the coach-in-waiting prior to taking the job in 2006. So what does Wisconsin do now?

What's good about the job:

Wisconsin is built to win today and tomorrow. Does this current team have quarterback issues? Yes, and it's something Bielema's successor will have to address. But the team has talent elsewhere, along with a strong offensive philosophy with a proven track record of success in the Big Ten.

The division is open for business. Will the next coach have Meyer to worry about? Of course. (And more on that in a moment.) But Penn State has entered a tough period, even if Bill O'Brien has worked wonders; Indiana is still scuffling, if improved; Illinois hit rock-bottom in 2012; and Purdue will have a new coach in 2013. At worst, the Badgers are easily the second-best team in the Leaders Division for the foreseeable future.

The next coach will have an excellent support staff, beginning with Alvarez at athletic director. He was invaluable to Bielema, due to their ties when Bielema was Wisconsin's defensive coordinator, and Alvarez can be a similar tool for Bielema's successor.

More than anything, Wisconsin has a system, and the system works. Could the next coach shake things up? Potentially, but Bielema's replacement would be smart enough to know that when things are working, it's foolish to make a drastic move. And who knows: Wisconsin might just hire a coach intimately familiar with what makes the Badgers tick.

What's bad about the job:

Urban Meyer.

Ohio State went 12-0 in 2012, winning the Leaders Division with an asterisk, and there's no reason to think the Buckeyes won't get better and better over the next few seasons. For the Badgers, any hope of another Big Ten title will go through OSU in 2013. Going up against Meyer would be a daunting task for any coach to consider.

Wisconsin's next coach will need to worry about Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who went 12-0 in his first season with the Buckeyes.(Photo: Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports)

There are a few personnel issues in play. The first is at quarterback, though UW did land a talented prospect in Bart Houston, a true freshman. (Houston took a redshirt this fall due to injury.) This year's defense was solid, if prone to some mistakes against dual-threat quarterbacks. The Badgers will lose running back Montee Ball, one of the most accomplished backs in FBS history.

Bielema's replacement will also need to rally the roster through another round of coaching moves. Bielema hired a slew of new assistant coaches after last season, including one, offensive line coach Mike Markuson, he fired in September. Even if the terminology remains the same, the Badgers will deal with a new set of voices for the second year in a row – including one at head coach.

Who are the likely candidates:

Alvarez has his pick of candidates with ties to the university. Based on how well the transition went when Bielema took over, would Wisconsin want to continue this trend by taking a former player or assistant coach?

Wisconsin's first call should be to Chryst, the Badgers' former offensive coordinator who just completed his first season at Pittsburgh. Not only is Chryst one of the top offensive minds in the country, but he also has key head coaching experience, if only for one year.

One can only think that Doeren would have jumped at the Wisconsin job, but the former Northern Illinois coach just agreed to become N.C. State's next coach. Could UW pry Doeren away just days later?

Three current NFL assistants are intriguing. Bevell is a former starting quarterback at UW who went on to spend six years (2000-5) with the Green Bay Packers, so he knows the lay of the land. Childress and Callahan coached under Alvarez, and Callahan was the former coach at Nebraska.

Chryst is the best pick – and you'd feel terrible for Pittsburgh, which can't catch a break. It might be hard for UW to reel Doeren away on such short notice, but the Badgers should at least inquire.